Cotton-compressor



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

A. T. SNODGRASS.

COTTON GOMPRESSDR.

No. 594,125. Patented Nov. 23,1897.

UNITED I STATES PATENT EEICE.

ARTHUR T. SNODGRASS, OF DOTHEN, ALABAMA.

COTTON-cowlPersson.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 594,125, dated November 23, 1897.

Application filed May 4, 1897. Serial No. 635,075. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, ARTHUR T. SNoDGRAss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dothen, in the county of Henry and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cotton-Compressors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of cottoncompressors in which a movable platen is operated by rods or pitmen connected with toggle -levers that are in turn operated by a steam-actuated piston. In this class of cotton-compressors there has been difficulty in properly lubricating the joints of the levers and in causing the piston to move smoothly, so as to prevent a jarring of the mechanism. As commonly constructed the steam-cylinder is left entirely open aty the top and there is often a waste of oil, which is occasioned by the escape of steam past the piston-head, which causes the oil to be projected upward and to fall out over the machinery and sometimes onto the operator. This of course is objectionable, and, furthermore, the supply of oil for lubrication is quickly exhausted and the piston and cylinder soon become dry and insufficiently lubricated. v

The objects of my invention are, first, to provide improved means for lubricating the joints of the levers; second, to provide im proved means for cushioning the downstroke of the piston; third, to provide devices for preventing the escape and waste of oil, and, fourth, to provide improved means for controlling the exit of exhaust and condensed steam. p

My improvements are shown in theaccompanying drawings and are hereinafter particularly described and claimed.

Figure 1 shows a vertical central section through a cotton-compressor embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 shows anend elevation thereof. Fi g; 3 'shows a perspective View of the device which I employ for preventing the escape and waste of oil at the top of the cylinder. Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of one member of one of the sets of toggle-levers employed. Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the other member thereof.

The platen 1 is of usual -construction and is connected pivotally to the lower ends of four vertically-arranged pitm en 12. y The stationary platen 2 is arranged above the movable platen and is secured to the under side of a box or frame A, which may be of any suitable construction. This frame is supported on four upright standards 7 and four diagonally-arranged beams or standards-8. Bolts 6, passing through the beams, standards, and frame-tie the parts iirmly together.

The platen 1 is guided by guides 5 of any suitable construction. Two sets of toggle-levers B B are connected with the pitmen 12 and with the piston-rod 16. Each set of toggle-levers comprisesa member C, bifurcated at its lower end, and ashorter member D, having a knuckle-.joint with the member C at c and pivoted at c to the frame A. The bifurcated members C are pivotally connected at their lower ends with a horizontally-arranged pin 18, carried by a block 20, which slides vertically in guides 21 in the frame or standard E, which supports the steam-cylinder F. Preferably the arms of the bifurcated member C interlock, as by this construction a more compact, steady, and powerful apparatus is afforded. The pitmen 12 are pivotally connected at cc to the member C of the toggle-levers between the knuckle-joints c and the pivot 18. The pivots 29 of the members D are located at the top of the frame A above the plane of the knuckle-joints c when the block 2O is depressed to its lowest point, and the pivots 29 are below the knuckle-joints, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, when the block 2O is elevated.

The piston-rod 16 passes through a stuflingbox G in the bottom of the cylinder F and is secured to the piston-head H,which, as shown, is conical, having a hollow portion h on its under side. The bottom of the cylinder is formed with a central conical portion g, corresponding with and projecting into the conical recess in the under side of the piston-head. The cylinder F is open at the top, as is usual in this class of presses, but is formed with an annular rabbet f to receive the deflect-or I.

(Shown in perspective in Fig. 3.) This deflector consists of an annular body portion t', having an inward ly-proj ectin g diagonally-arranged flange i. The body portion t' is seated in the rabbet f, as shown in Fig. 1, and clips 'i2 are employed to secure the detlector to the top of the cylinder.

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In this class of compressors it is customary to use alarge amount of oil in the cylinder above the piston-head. Often the oil is forced out through the top of the cylinder by escaping steam, and when the piston operates rapidly the oil is projected above the cylinderand scattered laterally therefrom. The deflector I, however, prevents this waste of oil, because any oil forced up along the sides of the cylinder by escaping steam will be caught beneath the deflector z" and immediately returned to the cylinder. The conical form of the pistonhead facilitates this operation. wardly-slopin g sides of the piston-head cause the oil to flow toward the outer edge of the piston-head above the packing-rings, where it is needed, and when the piston moves upwardly the oil will be coniined to the sides of the cylinder, and any tendency to flow out over the edge will be prevented bythe deflector I.

The use of the deflector enables me to use a comparatively short cylinder, as the piston may move to the end of the cylinder, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and yet waste of oil will be prevented in the manner before described. Rods 38, secured to the base F' of the cylinder F, are crossed and connected at their lower ends to the ends of cross-bars 37, secured to t-he top of the frame A. These rods cross each other, as shown, and extend outwardly from the bars 37 to the base f', as indicated in Fig. 2. By this construction a comparatively small frame or standard E may be employed to support the cylinder, as the rods 38 cause it to be held steady under all conditions. In this class of presses very large and powerful cylinders are employed and there is apt to be jarring and shaking of the mechanism, but by the construction described a standard for the cylinder of comparatively light Weight may be used.

The knuckle -joints of the toggle-levers which I employ are of novel construction. The member C of each set of toggle-levers is formed with laterally-projecting trunnions 13, to which the upper ends of the pitmen 12 are connected. It is also formed with cylindrical lugs 25 on the inside of enlarged wings 24. Between the lugs there is left a space 14 for a part of the other member of the joint, the construction of which is clearly shown in Fig. 5. This member is provided with laterally-projecting studs 29 and with a cylindrical lug 27, adapted to fit in the space 14 in the member C. It is also formed with concave portions 31, corresponding with the peripheries of the cylindrical lugs 25, and with an overhangin'g ange 15. The formation of theknuckle-joint is such that the flange 15 shall overhang the lugs 27 25 and shall ride on the top of the lugs 25, as shown in Fig. l. This iange is provided with apertures 33 to receive oil or other lubricant. It will be observed that at the joint one member is convex and the other concave. The concave member affords a cup for retaining the lu- The downbricant, not only when the levers are depressed, as shown in full lines in Fig. l, but also when the levers are elevated, as shown by dotted lines. When the levers are elevated, as shown by dotted lines, the concave portions of the members D are so arranged as to retain the lubricant and prevent it from spilling out. Joints commonly used in this class of presses have no such provision, and there is not only a waste of lubricant, but great friction and wear. My improvements prevent this and avoid the necessity of constantly lubricating the joints of the togglelevers.

A pin 32 passes through the lugs 25 and 27; but in operation little or no strain comes on this pin. The fiange l5 bears on the lugs 25, and the flange 15X on the under side of the member D extends beneath the lugs 25, so that Whatever be the position of the levers the strain is taken by the lugs and the flan ges and not by the vpin 32, which is merely used for convenience in assembling the parts. This I consider a very important improvement in the construction of toggle lever joints. Not only is the joint most efliciently lubricated, but there is a large surface for wear and increased strength is afforded.

The organization of the mechanism is such that the platen 1 is first raised rapidly and then more slowly, but with greater power as the leverage changes, as the knuckle-joints c are raised and moved outwardly, as indicated in Fig. 1. By thus rising and moving outwardl y the f ulcrums are shifted so as to cause a gradual increase of power to give final compression to the bale interposed between the platens.

A port P is formed in the bottom of the cylinder F below the piston I-I, and this port communicates through a pipe with two valvecasings X and Y, to one of which is connected a pipe 40 and to the other a pipe 4l. Steam from the boiler is supplied through the pipe 40 `to ihe casing X, and the pipe 41, which communicates with the casing Y, is used to perlnit the escape of condensed steam or water, and this pipe may, if preferred, be carried to a steam water-heater.

A valve is arranged in the casing X to govern the supply of steam to the cylinder, and its Weighted rod 42 is guided vertically in a frame 44. The rod 42 carries a tappet 43, against which operates a cam a on a shaft 45. In like manner a valve is arranged Within the valve-box Y, and its weighted rod 4G is guided in a frame 47. The rod 4G carries a tappet 4S, and a cam ZJ on the shaft 45 is adapted to engage with this tappet. An arm 49, secured to the shaft 45, is pivotally connected with a rod 50, which is in turn connected with an arm 51, projecting from a shaft 52, to which is also connected a hand-lever 53. By moving the lever 53 in the proper direction the valve may be opened in the case X to admit steam to the cylinder to raise the piston. By reversing the lever 53 the valve may be closed.

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The reverse movement of the lever causes the shaft 45 to be reversed, bringing the cam b against the tappet 48 onv the stem of the water-relief valve. This allows the steam to blow out the water of condensation through the pipe 4l prior to the lowering of the piston. It is notintended that the valve inthe casing Y should be held open for more than an instant, theobject being to merely cause the steam in the cylinder, when the piston-head is elevated, to expel the water of condensation at the bottom of the cylinder, so that when the piston descends the presence of Water in the cylinder may not cause a jarring ofthe apparatus. The water of condensation may be allowed to escape into the atmosphere, or it may be carried to a feed-water heater or elsewhere. The cams a and b are arranged on opposite sides of the shaft 45, so as to operate reversely.

The cylinder F is provided at a point above its lower end with an exhaust-port 56, from which an exhaust-pipe 57 extends. This pipe connects with two valve-casings X' and Y', to one of which is connected a pipe 80, which may lead to a feed-water heater,and tothe other of which is connected a pipe 63, leading to the atmosphere or elsewhere. A valve is arranged in the casing X', and its weighted valve-rod 8l is provided with a tapp'et 59, with which a cani 60, mounted on a shaft 6 1, cooperates. The shaft is mounted in a frame or bracket 62, supported on the valve-casings, and this rod is provided with an arm 67, connected by means of a rod 68 with an arm 69 on a shaft 70, which is also provided with a hand-lever 71. By operating the hand-lever shaft 6l may be oscillated to raise and lower the valve-rod. A valve is also arranged in the casing Y', and its weighted rod 64C carries a tappet 65, actuated by a cam 66 on the shaft 6l. The tappets on the valve-rods 8l and 64 are arranged to operate in the same direction-that is, they are on the same side of the shaft 6l, but one is arranged to act before the other, a slight movement of the hand-lever 71. causing the valve in one valve-casing to open while the other remains closed and a further movement causing the other valve to open also. allow the operator to permit the desired quantity of exhaust-steam to pass to the feed-water heater and then to arrest the supply thereof by opening wide the main exhaust and permitting the steam from the cylinder to escape into the atmosphere.

It will be observed that the hand-levers are conveniently located in proximity to each other. By turning the hand-lever 53 in one direction steam may be caused to enter the cylinder to raise the piston. Then by moving it in the opposite direction the supply of steam may be cut off and an exit for water of condensation may be opened. The lever may then be moved slightly in the opposite direction to close both exits. Thenthe other lever 7l may be moved, opening the exhaust The object of this organization is to and permitting exhaust-steam to pass to the feed-water heater, and then this lever may be further moved to open the main'exhaust. The levers being inv close proximity may be readily manipulated by the operator.

It will be observed that the exhaust-port 56 is located above the bottom of the cylinder F, and it is above the top of the pistonhead I-I when the latter is at the bottomof its downstroke, as shown in Fig. 1. The piston-headin effect opens and closes this port as itrises and falls.

In operation the proper hand-lever is first operated to admit steam below the piston, and the piston is raised, causing the movable platen to be elevatedv to compress the bale interposed between the two platens. When the piston has reached the extremity of its upward stroke, the operator closes the inletvalve. Then by reversing the movement of the hand-lever the water-relief valve is opened to allow the escape of water of condensation in the manner before described. It is only allowed toremain open for an instant to allow the steam to forcibly eject or blow out the water through the opening co. This operation does not relieve the pressure in the cylinder enough to allow the piston to descend, bntas soon as the bale has been tied the exhaust-valves are operated in the manner before described,'allowing steam to escape and.

the piston to gradually descend until it passes the exhaust-port 56. As it passes this port the piston will cut oit the escape of steam from the cylinder, leaving a sufficient amount of steam remaining in the bottom ofthe cylinder to form avcom plete steam-cushion,which will prevent all jar and danger of breakage of the working parts of the machine when the piston is completing its stroke.

By this organization and method of operation the press is rendered capable of operating much more rapidly and with much more ease than heretofore. Not only is there less vibration, but the press requires less attention. Heretofore the engineer has necessarily watched the mechanism to prevent the piston from descending too low, so as to jar the apparatus. The. drawings show a machine or- IOO ganized in the best way now known to mefor carrying out my invention, but the details of construction may be varied without departing from the subject-matter which I claim as new. While I have specifically described most of the mechanism, I do not wish to be. limitedto the specific details set forth in this specification, but point out in the claims the subject-matter which I deem to be novel.V

1. The combination, substantially as set forth, of the platen, the piston, means for operating it, the toggle-levers, consisting relatively of the short fulcrum-levers and the longer operating-levers, each set of said toggle-levers being provided with a knucklejoint, one member of which has a convex portion and the other member of which has a concave portion on which the periphery of the convex portion of the first-mentioned member bears and which also has a ilange overhanging the convex portion of the firstmentioned member, and provided with openings for the admission of a lubricant, and pitmen connecting the toggle-levers with the platen.

2. The combination, substantially as set forth, of the platen, the piston, means for operatin g it, the toggle-levers each pair ot' which is provided with a knuckle-joint, 011e member of which has cylindrical lugs arranged within projecting wings and the other of which has a concave portion fitting the cylindrical lugs, and provided with a flange overhanging the lugs and arranged between the wings.

3. The combination, substantially as set forth, of the platen, the piston, means for operating it, the toggle levers, each pair of which is provided with a knuckle-joint, one member of which is formed with cylindrical lugs arranged between projecting wings and the other of which is provided with a cylindrical lug tting between the cylindrical lugs of the other member, a pin passing through the lugs of both members, and pitmen connecting the toggle-levers with the platen.

4. A cotton-compressor comprising a steamactuated piston, a movable platen, and toggle-levers, each set of which has a knucklejoint, one member of which is convex and the other of which has a concave portion against which the periphery of the convex portion of the first-mentioned member bears, lugs on the two members, and a pin extending through said lugs and joining the two members.

5. A cotton-compressor comprising a movable platen, a steam-actuated piston and toggle-levers, each set of which comprises two members, one of which members is bifurcated and has cylindrical lugs separated by a hollow space, and the other of which has concave portions fitting the cylindrical lugs, and a cylindrical lug fitting the space between the cylindrical lugs of the first-mentioned member, and provided also with apertures to receive the lubricant.

6. In a cotton-compressor, the combination of the piston, the platen, connections between the piston-rod and the platen, the cylinder, the piston-head secured to the piston-rod within the cylinder, and having an inclined top surface and an annular delector at the top of the cylinder to prevent the escape of oil.

7. The combination of the movable platen, the piston-rod, connections between the piston-rod and the platen, the piston-head secured to the piston-rod, the cylinder, and an supply-pipe for admitting steam to the cylinder at the bottom thereof, a valve governing the supply of steam to the cylinder, another valve governing the exit of water of condensation from the bottom of the cylinder, a lever, connections between said lever and the said valves, an exhaust-port located near the lower end of the cylinder but above the bottom thereof, and which the piston passes as it rises and falls, two valve-boxes connected with said exhaust-port, and valves in said boxes governing the exhaust of steam from the cylinder, an operating-lever, and connections between said lever and said two exhaustvalves, whereby they are open successively.

10. The combination, substantially as set forth, of the platen, the piston, connections between the platen and the piston, the steamcylinder open at the top and having a deector around its upper end, means for admitting steam to the lower end of the cylinder below the piston, an exhaust-port at the side of the cylinder near the bottom thereof, a valve in said exhaust-port, and lever mechanism for opening and closing the valve, the organization being such that the exhaust-port may be open while the piston is descending, but may be closed by the piston before the latter reaches the bottom of the cylinder.

ll. The combination of the platen, the piston, connections between the platen and the piston, the steam-cylinder, means for admitting steam to the cylinder below the piston, an exhaust-port in the side of the cylinder abovethe lower end thereof, valves governing said port, and lever mechanism for operating the said valves to first permit the escape of steam in one direction from the exhaustport and then open an additional escape for steam in another direction.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

ARTHUR T. SNODGRASS.

Witnesses:

B. W. MILLER, E. A. BALLocH.

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